FRY HER and if you don't YOU MUST THROW AWAY THE KEY. She should at the least rot in prison.

the people she murdered can't ever come back.

You know, for about one hour I felt sorry for Susan Atkins, then I re-read the details of the horros of her crime. Death would have been more equitable as far as justice is concerned. I only hope she is well enough to know how HATED she still is. I hope she realizes how DISDAINFUL people view her; I hope she realizes how DISGUSTED people are with her; I hope she realizes how selfish and unfair this slut is for even THINKING about asking for relief. If she was remorseful, she'd WANT to spend the rest of her days incarcerated! Obviously, by asking for something she was/is/will be unable to give - compassion - and to EXPECT that from others is proof in and of itself she isn't fit for society no matter how paralyzed and sick the bitch is.

I SAY LET HER OUT. SHE IS DYING. LET HER FAMILY HAVE SOME TIME WITH HER.

AND PLEASE DEBRA TATE, DONT LIVE AND DIE WITH HATE ALL YOUR LIFE AS YOUR POOR MOTHER DID. I SAY THIS WITH ALL RESPECT AND AS A PERSON WHO LOST A LOVED ONE THROUGH A TERRIBLE ACT OF VIOLENCE ALSO.

Susan Atkins is receiving medical care for her terminal illness. She is lying in a comfortable bed. She is able to receive visits from her loved ones. She will die surrounded by the people she loves--including the man she was permitted to marry--knowing she is being cared for.

I can hardly imagine a death more different from the one Sharon Tate and the others were forced to endure.

Mercy is a wonderful thing. And the fact that Susan Atkins will be allowed to die like that is mercy enough.

As the editorial board said, there are some crimes for which one truly deserves imprisonment until death, and hers is one of them.

To do more would be to fail to acknowledge the severity of her crimes and the pain and wishes of the victims' families.

Susan did something horrible. Something none of us should ever forget. But to think that she is the most violent and ruthless of all killers, as some readers imply, is to forget the cold-blooded ruthless murders that a large number of young males commit without so much as a second thought. Susan tried to do some good with her life. Those human vermin never consider any hint of regret. Those are the ones that should be locked up and have the key thrown away. But they get parole and are back on the streets to rape and murder again and again. Let us show some compassion to Susan Atkins. Or we risk becoming as cold-hearted and unfeeling as any killer is. This lady is dying of a horrible illness. I believe we should allow her to at least die in the comfort of her home. No, she didn't allow Sharon Tate or her child to do that. But that doesn't mean two wrongs make a right.

I am ashamed that our society views extreme vengeance as a proper memorial. It plays into the worst aspects of human nature; that we are not part of a big family. We should view murder as if one member of our family killed another. A terrible tragedy. Some sort of punishment is needed. But punishing a broken down old dying women for something stupid (and awful) she did 40 years ago, is sick.

Susan Atkins should be released from prison. - Stanly Milgram proved from expeiments that we all can train our minds to kill innocent people with electrocution.
This was a question stemming from the holocaust, and how could the german people allow themselves to think, and kill the jews.
The german people were brainwashed aginst the jews just like Susan Atkins was brainwashed by Charlie Manson. Most of the manson ladies were 17 and 18 at the time of the murders, and should not be held responsible for what they did while under the mind control from Charlie Manson. - Yes free Susan Akins, she was not under her own control of her thoughts and actions when she committted the murders.

Good Morning from Boston,

Years ago, I worked with someone who was renting a small house not far from 10050 Cielo Drive back in 1969. He and his wife heard the gunshots and the horrific screams; he described that night in sickening detail to me.

I've never forgotten that conversation and never will as long as I live. 'Compassionate release' for this murderous piece of trash? I don't think so. Kudos to the parole board for keeping this sub-human in custody. As other posters have said, she didn't show and 'compassion' for her victims, did she?

Rot in Hell, Susan!

Let Susan Atkins out to live her final days with her family???!!! What about pregnant Sharon Tate? She was killed like a savage animal. She was never able to hold her baby boy. May God forgive Susan Atkins but she should die in jail.

Mercy???? Give me a break. What mercy did she show those poor victims. Forget the fear that I felt as a young person living in So. Calif. at the time. Not knowing who would be next while they were on their killing spree. She should not be shown any compassion. Let's all hope she lives and "suffers" great pain as long as possible

Let's get some things straight and out in the open. "If" Atkins had been released, she would still be a huge drain on society since she has no means to support herself or to obtain medical care. Most likely, she would create even more financial hardships for us all, and I have a hard time thinking that there is a line of people jumping at the chance to provide care to her...they'd be ridiculed and harassed by their own families and friends as well as an overwhelming majority of society.

As for "her immediate family", I've yet to see any such definition of her supposed family except for that so-called husband of hers that is leading the fight to get her paroled. Isn't it ironic that he just happens to be one of her attorneys? In that sense, he is PAID by the state and therefore would have a vested interest to get her paroled not only to boost his career but I believe he has a book deal he might be shopping around. After the Stanley Tookie debacle outing the personal profit interests of his main supporters, we absolutely MUST be skeptical of this request for compassion. Susan Atkins is not so much the focus as is the attack on the judicial system, original sentence imposed and the attempt to thwart the final sentence in which she was slated to remain in prison for the remainder of her days...not just the remainder of her healthy days.

Let her go... she's paid for her crime to a higher authority. Geez, what's she gonna do for christsakes, she's only got one leg and can't hardly put sentences together. It's time to let this rest. The more heinous we make this crime the more legendary this group becomes. We've really set a good example here. Everybody already thinks it's pretty fishy that as soon as they all get death back at the trial they get commuted to life. That's where the mistake was made! These people never should have been sent to prison... if anything they should have been seen to a psychiatric facility.

I have to wonder if Atkins cares all that much about where she dies. She's toast and she knows it. It's her loved ones who care, I'd bet. I'd bet they'd like society to sort of forgive Atkins by releasing her, as the her family already has forgiven.

Once Susan Atkins, is gone, I hope that the realtives of the victims...maybe find some sort of closure.

In my opinion I say let Susan Atkins out for her remaing days. When the crimes were comitted Susan was under the spell of a madman and under the influence of some heavy duty street drugs. These ar not excuses but I think should factor into the equation. It was either die at the hands of Charles Manson or do a very sick and twisted crime and and pay the piper later. Susan wrote a book about 30 years ago that hopefully has helped a great many teens and young adults stay away from those types of cults to begin with. Her day of judgement is close and it is not up to us as humans to make those judgements. So, I say let her out, let her touch some flowers, smell the ocean breeze one more time. It is not going to hurt any of us one bit.

This is just such a sad and horrible mess. I honestly think that they should have been executed in a timely manner after the penalty phase of their trial. In illinois there was a death row prisoner named richard speck who made videos where he laughed about his crimes while getting high on drugs. I think it is commendable that Susan Atkins tried as best she could to atone for her crimes and make what amendments she could in prison. I hope that god shows her more mercy than she did to her victims. I think the only ones who could speak about compassionate release would be the victim’s families. There was no one to hear Sharon Tate's pleas except her killers who showed no remorse. While prison is very brutal I think Susan Atkins and the rest came out way ahead of Sharon Tate and the other victims in terms of the compassion they were shown. I'm not wise enough to know what the right thing to do is but I feel that compassionate release would be inappropriate for Susan Atkins and the rest of the Manson killers. My sincerest hope is that the victims of these brutal crimes are at peace and that all of the families nvolved are able to heal.

Susan Atikins is exactly where she needs to be. If she is as incapacitated as her lawyer/husband claims, one bed is as good as another to spend your final days. If she were released, she still would be a drain on society. Being unemployed, indigent, and terminal, she would be elgible for Medicare and Medicaid and the state and federal government would continue to pick up the tab. Atkins was shown mercy when her death sentence was overturned and she was not executed. Her brother claims they were abused. If that is true, I am sorry for her victimization. However, many people are abused and do not go out and commit premeditated, savage butchery. Atkins has lived nearly 40 years longer than Sharon Tate. While incarcerated she married twice, had conjugal visits, and earned a college degree. She had a son who she did not raise but was able to see and hold him. Sharon Tate never saw her son on this earth. Susan's son was adopted and hopefully has had a full and happy life, untainted by his "mother's" scandal. Sharon's son never drew his first breath, took his first steps, had a first day of school, graduated high school and college, got married and had his own children.
I personaly believe that Atkins is using her jail house religion to attempt to manipulate the system and secure a release from prison. She has never assumed any responsibility nor expressed any remorse for her henious actions. "I was brainwashed" (therefore it wasn't me). "It was the drugs." (I didn't do it). "There is no apology big enough." ( so I can't apologize to the victims families.) If she has truly given her heart to the Lord and had a genuine conversion experience then that is a blessing for her. However, Atkins must still answer to the powers here on earth as well. Life should mean life. The only way she should leave prison is in a hearse. Hopefully, her family will bury her privately in an unmarked grave. Having a known, marked gravesite, will draw the macabre, and also draw those people who are still so horrified at what she did, that they will want to desecrate her grave. I do feel sympathy for her family, they, too, are victims of her crimes. She would like time to say her goodbyes to her loved ones privately. Sharon Tate did not have that option. Atkins time on earth will soon be over. I am sure the staff will be sensitive and allow her family to say their goodbyes privately. She will stand before the only One who can judge her. Perhaps she can ask the Tate Family, Abigail Folger, Vyteck Frykowski, Jay Sebring, Stephen Parent , and the Labiancas for their forgiveness and compassion

Sounds like she is on her way to some vegitative state, followed by death from the brain tumor, but I do have two thoughts on the issue. First, it's a damn good thing we all don't have to pay like she has for something done in 1969. Looking back on my life, I'd like to think that many transfromations have occurred, and every 5 years or so I'm a different person, especially considering all the phases I've (we've all) been through, like the teen years, college, grad school, work, kids, getting older. I'm sure Susan has undergone these many transformations and is a completely different person than she was in 1969. Second, if the victims families just want to see her suffer, then they have that; but, if they wanted some sort of restitution or living penance from Susan and the others (except Charlie), I think those girls as grown women could have done more to repay their debt outside, on a tight leash. As twisted as society is today, think of the appearance money and speaking/book fees those girls could have generated that could have gone into the victims' families' pockets. Too late now - the girls won't get out, all will remain bitter.

My family lived a few blocks from the Tate estate. Something died in us upon hearing of the slaughter. Our feeling of safety. I have never felt safe since then, no matter where I live. We spent years wondering if any of the Manson family checked up on our house, looked in our windows while choosing their vicitms. After all these years and I still shake at the thought.

God forgive me for what I'm going to say, but I hope that Susan feels the same pain all those poor people felt when she was slicing through their flesh. She's monster, trash that should have been disposed of then and there, along with all the other members who acted out such crimes. Justice was not served. Where is the justice when the family memebers of the deceased are forced whether they want to or not, to pay taxes for their upkeep??!!

I wonder what kind of a man can marry such a woman. Feeling her hands on his skin, knowing she held the knife that killed Sharon, her unborn child and God knows who else. How can a man love such a monster?

Rot in hell Susan

I WAS ONLY 12 WHEN SUSAN ATKINS KILLED SHARON TATE BUT I REMEMBER IT WELL, I REMEMBER HOW BEAUTIFUL SHARON TATE WAS AND HOW HAPPY SHE WAS TO BE HAVING HER FIRST CHILD, I AM SORRY FOR SUSANS ILLNESS AND SUFFERING BUT I DO NOT THINK SHE SHOULD BE RELEASED, I HOPE SHE HAS GIVEN HER HEART TO JESUS BECAUSE WHEN SHE DIES, THATS WHEN SHE;LL WALK FREE AND NOT BEFORE THAT,

It's now late November 08 and i imagine she is still hanging on. I have just read Helter Skelter and after reading that I say, let her rot where she is. There is no forgiveness for killing so many, tasting the blood of your victims, and killing an unborn baby. Whether or not she did it, she was there and was convicted. Her 'who cares' attitude when questioned, even during the penalty phase of the trial was unbelievable! She said, I killed her, so what (basically) so, she's dying, Who cares~

Susan Atkins already had a criminal record long before meeting manson. and to use the poor excuse of her being "brainwashed" or under the influence of drugs is ludicrous. and the comparison to those wh oparticipated in the mass murder of more than 6 million people in WW2 is totally uncalled for. Every one of those people who participated in the Holocaust whether they put someone in a cattle car, poured in the Zyklon B, they all had a choice to make and they mad eht choice to assist in mass murder. There is no excuse. Nor is there any excuse for Susan atkins and the rest of those who chose to kill at the behest of Manson. I for one do not feel she should be paroled but then I don't have the word. If anyone does it is all the families of the victims. The comment about Debra Tate was horrible. How does one get over something like that? The pictures of the victims are heartbreaking. I am not sure what Ms. Atkins remorse is or where her religoin has come from. She will answer to a much higher authority upon her death but I will not ask for her to suffer. That would put me on the level of a killer and I will not go there. The Tate/LaBianca case and all its horrors will never go away. I am sure there are people who do love Ms. Atkins. Just as there are many who loved all the victims. Let them make the choice. Only God knows what is in the heart of Ms. Atkins and let's leave that to Him to judge. And whether she remains in prison or not it will still cost the tax payers to maintain her. But that point is moot. I ma sure that over the past 39 yeaars she has been haunted for her past crimes and that in itself must be hell to live with.